Frank Watt was the unofficial manager of Newcastle United from 1895 to 1935. He did not have control over team selection so technically he was not manager but rather the club secretary, as a member of the committee that at the time owned the club.
A Scotsman, Watt's first involvement in football came with the 3rd E.R.V. club in Edinburgh, the precursor of the former league side St Bernard's, where he combinined his playing role with that of club secretary. He was later appointed secretary of the Edinburgh (later East of Scotland) Football Association before leaving for Tyneside.[1]
During his time at the Newcastle the club won the old First Division four times in 1905, 1907, 1909 and 1927. They also won the FA Cup three times in 1910, 1924 and 1932.
Frank Watt was born in Edinburgh. A former referee, Watt was appointed as secretary of the Newcastle United in December 1895. Newcastle’s first official manager was Andy Cunningham in 1930. Before this the club was run by committee, overseen by the club secretary. The modern manager was unheard of. Frank Watt was however very influential and was the unofficial manager of the club: he was referred to as “The Guv’nor” He had a portly figure and a handlebar mustache.
Watt had great ambitions for Newcastle. Upon arrival he declared “We’re going to be the best team in the country.” The Edwardian Newcastle side dominated the league with a side assembled entirely by Watt, who also secured the signatures of players such as Hughie Gallacher, Colin Veitch, and Stan Seymour throughout his 37 years at the club, players who are still considered legends today. However he initially turned down Stan Seymour, explaining that the future Mr. Newcastle was “too small to play football” -
With Newcastle, Watt won the league 4 times in 1905, 1907, 1909 and 1927. His team reached 6 FA cup finals. They won 2, (1910 and 1924) and came runners up on 4 occasions. (1905, 1906, 1908, 1911)
|
||||||||